St. Moses the Black (330–405)
St. Moses the Black, also called Moses the Ethiopian, was another desert saint who experienced remarkable transformation. An escaped slave, he was a leader of a group of robbers as well as a murderer.
One day he took refuge at a monastery from the local authorities. He was so moved, however, by the peaceful manner of the monks inside that he experienced a dramatic change of heart. He confessed his sins, repented, and asked if he could stay at the monastery.
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The monastery abbot, St. Isadore, took Moses to the roof to watch the sunrise. Isadore, sensing that Moses was discouraged, said, “Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day. And, thus, only slowly does one become the perfect contemplative.”
His sins, however, continued to torment him. He was making a confession to St. Macarius one day when an angel appeared to him. The angel held up a tablet of his past sins and began to wipe them clean as he confessed them. Still, he had a difficult time adjusting to the disciplined life of the monastics.
Once, while he was staying at the monastery, four robbers attacked him. But he was of a powerful physique, and overpowered them. He tied them into a bundle and dragged them to the monastery chapel. He dropped them in front of the other monks, who were busy at prayer. He explained that now that he had them tied up, he was not quite sure what to do with them, and he did not think it would be Christian to hurt them. The stunned robbers repented and became monks themselves.
Moses eventually became the leader of a group of hermits who lived in the desert near Skete. He was also ordained as a priest. When Moses was seventy-five years old, he heard that robbers planned to attack his group. Instead of fleeing or taking up arms, Moses stayed to greet his attackers and was martyred along with seven of his brother monks. He is commemorated on August 28 and is viewed as the patron saint of African-Americans.
